VOLLEYBALL phenom Alyssa Valdez, Kapamilya host Robi Domingo and former UAAP courtside report Ganiel Krishnan will join forces to show some of the greatest athletes and moments in the country’s premier collegiate league to jumpstart UAAP’s milestone 80th season.
The trio will feature the likes of Ian Lariba, Danny Florencio, Lydia De Vega, and Robert Jaworski in the “UAAP Greats” TV special, which will air this Saturday at 1 p.m. on S+A and S+A HD, right after the grand opening ceremony of UAAP Season 80 at 12 noon, courtesy of this year’s host the Far Eastern University.
Alyssa, Robi, and Ganiel will take us through a time travel of sorts to the greatest winning streaks, individual performances, championship runs, and tandems that have dotted the 80 years of UAAP, while the ceremony promises to bring back the legends from each school to welcome the new season, which has the theme “Go for Great.”
Moreover, S+A will also introduce new features in its UAAP coverage, starting with a new batch of courtside reporters, which include Miguel Dypiangco (NU), Tonie Moreno (UST), Eileen Shi (DLSU), Martie Bautista (ADMU), Nicole Sumangui (AdU), Agatha Uvero (UP), Migs Gomez (UE), and Sydney Crespo (FEU). Former courtside reporters Krishnan, Pauline Versoza, Angelique Manto, and Ira Pablo will also return to serve as “UAAP Insiders” that will offer viewers and netizens with exclusive bits and features on UAAP teams and its players.
This year also marks the reinvention of the magazine show “Upfront at the UAAP,” with original host Janeena Chan being joined by new hosts Martin Javier, Turs Daza, and Manto in presenting in-depth and fun features on the lives of the athletes on and off the playing courts. ABS-CBN Sports will also launch a UAAP microsite, www.uaap80.com, which will house all updates, stories, and videos for the season. A special edition UAAP Magazine will also be coming out within the season.
Meanwhile, kicking off the explosive opening day lineup will be the National University Bulldogs going up against the University of the East Red Warriors at 2 p.m., followed by an aerial showdown between the Adamson Falcons and the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles.